I have a big problem with my Sony PCM-M10, that I'm hoping someone can help me out with. I've been using it without incident for quite some time and have never had a problem...until now. Saturday night, I used it to record a three set show. No problems. Everything was shut down and carefully packed as it always is. Sunday morning I removed the card to empty it, reinserted it and proceeded to turn the deck on to reset for the memory card, but when I turned it on, nothing. Power was clearly there, the access LED even blinks, but all I have is a black screen with what appears to be a thin frame around the edge in the normal orange color. Nothing works! If I press the record button, no record light and the pause doesn't blink. If I press the play button, it lights up...so I plugged in headphones and there was a recording on it that was playing back (from over a year ago when I first got it and didn't know I had to switch over the memory!). As I listened in amazement that something was working, I noticed the display screen go on, and then off again, and stayed off. The volume switch was not allowing me to adjust the the volume up or down. In fact, none of the other buttons or functions worked. Batteries, by the way, are good, but I tried plugging it in anyway (and of course removed the batteries in hopes of a simple reset). Well, it turned out that the internal memory was full, so I hooked the deck up to the computer and emptied it. After clearing the memory, I turned it off, then back on again. Once on, after a few seconds, the display blinked on for about a second, then went off again. The difference is, now the play button light won't go on if pressed (probably because there's nothing to play) but the record light will, and the pause button blinks as normal...but still no LED display. Here's a fun piece of info, the peak lights seem to be functioning fine, and after a minute or three, the display went on! Levels and all (from the internal mics)...but will not remain on. I've turned it off and back on again a few times. I was even able to see and set the memory card. The battery level shows full bars. The display will go on and off like it's got a mind of it's own, but mostly stays off. What the fuck? Has this happened to anyone else?

I sent the same message to Sony (minus the last line), and received this email back from them:

From the description of your problem it sounds like there is an internal connection that is intermittent or broken. This would require having your PCM-M10 serviced. If your unit is out of warranty, then there would be $150.00 replacement charge (plus tax and shipping) to replace you unit with a new one. I have attached a service form to help speed thing up. Please fill out the form and enclose a copy with your unit when you send it in to the address on the top of the form

I asked for clarification about what I'm getting for my $150.00 replacement charge (plus tax and shipping). Are they in fact repairing or giving me a new recorder? It would still be under $200, and worth it to me if they're giving me a new one.

"Every time I see a group of teenagers gathered around an iphone laughing at some youtube video, I walk up to them,﻿ slap the iphone out of their hand, get right up to them nose to nose, and scream at the top of my lungs:

Yeah, you're right, I'm a newbie, LOL...only at this live recording thing for about 35 years. As it happens, the recorder was faulty. Lucky for me, my years of experience with live recording in virtually every imaginable situation, has taught me how to do it blindfolded...or in this case, without a screen to see what's going on. But thank you, nassau73, for your words of wisdom, they were very helpful, LOL!

As I follow various threads here at Taperssection, it seems to me that on occasions folks have problems with their recorders after pulling cards to copy to computer.

Other than speed, what is the advantage of pulling the card instead of using the USB cable to copy from the recorder?

As I understand it, we still want to format the card using the recorder itself so it seems to me that leaving the card in the recorder is the safest way to go.

Yes.I just leave the mini SD card in the recorder.It has been in the M10 since day one.In my studies before I purchased my M10 years ago .I've read some complaints on this board then about users having issues with the cards not seating good in the M10 and issues with the cards and their crappy adapters when inserted on their computers.I just leave the mini SD card in the M10 and let the files upload to the computer.I know It will take longer but I dont want to deal with those flimsy mini SD cards.That my only gripe with the M10 is the use of those mini SD cards.

As I follow various threads here at Taperssection, it seems to me that on occasions folks have problems with their recorders after pulling cards to copy to computer.

Other than speed, what is the advantage of pulling the card instead of using the USB cable to copy from the recorder?

As I understand it, we still want to format the card using the recorder itself so it seems to me that leaving the card in the recorder is the safest way to go.

Yes.I just leave the mini SD card in the recorder.It has been in the M10 since day one.In my studies before I purchased my M10 years ago .I've read some complaints on this board then about users having issues with the cards not seating good in the M10 and issues with the cards and their crappy adapters when inserted on their computers.I just leave the mini SD card in the M10 and let the files upload to the computer.I know It will take longer but I dont want to deal with those flimsy mini SD cards.That my only gripe with the M10 is the use of those mini SD cards.

I have never uploaded my files using a cable unless the files were in the internal memory. That one time was the only time I had an issue, and the deck gets A LOT of use. Considering all the times I checked and rechecked the card and slot, I know that wasn't the problem. I never did figure out what went wrong, but one day, when randomly checking it, it was fine. That was 3 years ago, and I've been using the deck ever since...and continue to remove the card every time I use it. I would say the deck is used at least once a week... I think the deck took a trip through the twilight zone or something, but I'm happy to have it to use now as part of my arsenal.

Also, just so you know since you don't remove the card, if you put it in incorrectly, there will be a message on the screen telling you that. What happened with mine was that it went completely blank, like it was dead. The thing is, it would still record fine, you just had no way of setting anything because you had no visuals. Weird.

It will be used this weekend for a 2-day festival and then again in another couple of weeks for another 2-day festival (where I need 3 decks for 3 stages). Luckily, all is fine.